Job Discussion Forums

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

What happens to a teacher in KSA when he (or she) reaches retirement age? Must they abandon the land where they have plied their trade happily for years or would the Kingdom allow them to spend their twilight years there?
Must say I would find it rather unjust that a professional who had given much to the Kingdom should be told to sling his or her hook and go elsewhere.
My main concern, however, is the thought of sad, grumpy old TEFLers ending up here in Spain, where hundreds of thousands of foreigners choose to abide even when they no longer need jobs.

007 · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:16 pm Post subject: Re: Retirement in KSA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I have come across a few who have chosen to end their days here. Basically you just find a Sauid who will sponsor you and that is it.

Easier if you are one of the faithful though.

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject:

Basically, as foreigners we only have the right to be in KSA as long as our employers need us. Once we are surplus to their requirements, they do not renew their sponsership of us and we have no legal basis to be in the Kingdom.

Of course, as Scot has said, if you have made friends in high places the possibility exists of having them sponsor you for a retirement stay. However, the only people I've heard of who express any interest in spending their retirement here are 'revert' types. Most people come here to save money for their retirement, not to live here in their twilight years.

trapezius · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject:

Not just the reverts, but also Muslims from 3rd World countries who have been here for decades, prefer to retire here. Specifically, some Arabs and Indian subcontinentals. Not many, but my parents know a few, and I have come across a few as well.

Other than the channel mentioned, once you retire, you could also come under the sponsorship of a working son or daughter. The government allows this, however, I think only for Muslims. My parents will probably do the same once they retire.

It is funny to think. While you are growing up in this country as a foreigner, you are under your father's sponsorship. Once you get a job here and become independent, your parents once they retire, can come under your sponsorship!

But yes, I do agree that it is unjust of this country to throw people out who have toiled ther whole lives here.

They should allow expats who have spent a certain minimum number of years working here (say 20), to be able to retire here.

Allah will guide them! Rolling Eyes

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

trapezius · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject:

Yes, it could create problems, but have there been any problems due to this in Dubai?

It is simply a fear of the the "other". Shame that humanity hasn't learnt anything yet. Why are people so scared of foreigners?

If anything, it would be good for the economy here. Let them buy property here (it can be limited to 1 house/apt), and then retire here. Instead of spending money outside in their own countries, they will spend it here.

And a bunch of retired old people aren't going to add anything to the crime rate, so that shouldn't be a concern.

They could completely regulate this process. They could start with those who have spent at least 30 years here, and are at least 60 years old. They must not have been convicted of any crime. They must have a minimum certain amount of money in the bank here.

Then let them buy in their own name a house/apt, and let them die in peace here.

Anyway, I am talking to the wall here. What do people from this country know about peace and leaving people alone, not to mention, kindness?!

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

I read recently that Bahrain is going to allow foreigners to retire there provided they have spent at least 15 years working in the GCC area.

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The third world professionals who wish to spend their retirement years in Saudi do so because their children are working there.

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject:

If they are 'professionals' with reasonably good contracts, then they might be able to sponsor their parents' as dependents, no?

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

007 · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject:

If you are a foreigner and a professional with high qualifications and have been working in the magic kingdom for at least 10 years continously, then you can apply for Saudi citizenship and you will be entitled for retirement here. But, you will loose your previous citizenship.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=58980&d=14&m=2&y=2005

Anybody interested for Saudi citizenship?
If you are interested, just call me @ 777 777 777 for a leaflet and more information. Laughing

trapezius · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:35 pm Post subject:

I have looked that up, and basically it is bull s***.

You have to get 21 points to qualify, and you can only get 21 if either:

1) You have a Ph.D.

OR

2) If only an MA/MS, you get 18. If you have Saudi IMMEDIATE relatives, you can get a few points, maybe making it 21 if you are (un)lucky!

Otherwise, you have no chance.

OH, AND THE PHD HAS TO BE IN MEDICINE OR ENGINEERING (and one more field that I can't remember).

So basically, if you have a Ph.D. in psychology, chemistry, English, anthropology, Arabic, math, business, etc, according to them, you are useless to the country.

You are also useless if you have Master's in any of those fields, or indeed, even in engineering and medicine.

Un-nice people/governments cannot suddenly become nice. This nationality thing is geared towards people who probably already have a highly desirable nationality, and wouldn't want the Saudi one. Any expat with a PhD in engineering or medicine working in Saudi most likely has US/UK/AU/CA nationality, or can get one easily (except US).

Those who really want to stay here and perhaps retire/die here are the Pakistani/Indian/Egyptian/etc doctors, engineers, teachers, businessmen, technicians, etc. Those who only have BA/BS, or maybe MA/MS. Tough luck for them.

Admittedly, this is only for people who have qualifications/jobs "needed" by the country, as per the official statements. In other words, all the work done by the tens of millions of expats in the past 30 years, such as sweeping streets, building hospitals, homes, universities, palaces, malls, treating people at hospitals, nursing, engineering, teaching, etc, is ALL WORTHLESS. And could have been done by the locals, right? Evil or Very Mad

From Arab News:

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

While I was in The Land of Not Quite Right, I never met any foreigners who weren't dreaming of leaving if only they could find a better job elsewhere. Expats from the Subcontinent and the Philippines were always desperately asking me about US visa lotteries, and so on. Not that I'm saying the US is the only place they wanted to go...I'm sure they pestered the Brits and Canadians and others about their respective visa requirements.

Personally my dream is to retire in Riyadh, studying metaphysics and absorbing pearls of wisdom at the feet of 007.